Hélène Valenzuela, Managing Director of Ouigo España, is set to leave her post at the end of the year, according to reports this morning. Valenzuela departs the Spanish subsidiary of SNCF after spearheading the rollout of the low-cost operator in the country since March 2019.
Her successor will be Amandine Thomas-Commin, currently Head of Intercités operations at SNCF Voyageurs, with more than 15 years of experience within the French parent company.
Ouigo España broke Renfe’s high-speed monopoly by becoming the first operator to compete against the national carrier on the AVE network.
Under Valenzuela’s leadership, the company invested €700 million, purchased and refitted 16 trainsets, and built a network now spanning 15 destinations — the newest additions being Córdoba, Málaga, and Seville since January this year. Since its launch, Ouigo has carried 20 million passengers and expects to achieve a positive EBITDA by year’s end.
The outgoing executive has been involved in several disputes with the Ministry of Transport and infrastructure manager Adif over track access charges, energy management, and alleged unfair competition linked to ticket pricing below cost. Valenzuela has consistently maintained that Ouigo operates without public subsidies and that its business model is fully sustainable.
Thomas-Commin, currently Director of Intercités at SNCF Voyageurs, will now take the helm with the goal of strengthening profitability and expanding the operator’s share in the Spanish high-speed market. She will also lead the company through the so-called second phase of liberalisation.